Miami is to get a new $3 billion mega-resort next year constructed by the same firm behind Singapore’s massive Resorts World Sentosa destination. The enormous Resorts World Miami, which will overlook Miami’s prized waterfront, is set to open next year in between Miami International Airport and Miami Beach, Malaysian developer Genting confirmed. The development will stretch three miles along the bayfront, filling a total of 13.9 acres and containing multiple skyscrapers with a futuristic ocean-inspired design. With approximately 10 million feet of space, it will be one of the largest development projects in the history of Miami, one of the U.S. most popular holiday destinations.

A total of four hotels will call Resorts World Miami home, offering a total of 5,200 rooms, alongside which a series of residential towers will also be built. Underneath the skyscrapers is an eight-story base building, which will hold a 250,000 square foot retail centre, over 50 restaurants, lounges bars and nightclubs and the largest ball room in the United States. Genting also confirmed that it plans to include a casino, subject to approval from Florida’s lawmakers. On top of the base podium’s rooftop will be a 3.6 acre lagoon with beaches, allowing guests to swim over 1,000 feet from one end to the other — or walk the length of the building on a new Baywalk, which stretches for three miles.

Genting is the name behind the enormous Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, which, along with Marina Bay Sands, was among the world’s first truly ‘integrated resort’ and has significantly boosted Singapore’s tourism income. With the announcement of Resorts World Miami, it looks like Florida could also be in for a touch of the Genting magic.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Veteran Naomi Campbell and newcomer Rob Evans are the faces of Givenchy’s Fall/Winter 2011 campaign.

The two models, photographed by Mert & Marcus, pose in black but gilded pieces from the upcoming collection.

The campaign also features Models Natalia Vodianova, Kristen McMenamy, and Mariacarla Boscono.

Have yall try Chronic Ice? It's a delicious hemp iced tea... look for it at a market near you!

www.ChronicIceTea.com

Big shout out to Floyd Mayweather on his victory fight against Victor Ortiz. Jackie Long chillin' doing the UGLY face! GING!

China, already the world’s second largest bullion consumer, has installed the country’s first gold vending machine in a busy shopping district in Beijing. Shoppers in the popular Wangfujing Street can insert cash or use a bank card to withdraw gold bars or coins of various weights based on market prices. Each withdrawal is capped at 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) or one million yuan (about $156,500) worth of gold.

Gold vending machines already exist in Britain, the United States, the Middle East and Europe. The machine was launched Saturday by the Beijing Agricultural Commercial Bank and a gold trading company, the report said. They plan to install an unspecified number of machines in secure locations such as gold shops and upmarket private clubs. Gold is often used as a hedge against inflation and the machines could prove popular among Chinese consumers looking for a convenient way to safeguard their cash amid rising prices. Chinese consumer demand for gold soared 27 percent year-on-year to 579.5 tonnes in 2010. India, the world’s top consumer, saw a 66 percent increase to 963.1 tonnes.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

When the SS Gairsoppa was torpedoed by a German U-boat 70 years ago, it took its huge silver cargo to a watery grave. Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration’s divers are working to recover what may be the biggest shipwreck haul ever, valued at some $210 million. The British ship was carrying some 219 tons of silver when it sank in 1941 in the North Atlantic some 300 miles (490 kilometers) off the Irish coast. Valued then at 600,000 pounds, the silver today is worth about $210 million, which would make it history’s largest recovery of precious metals lost at sea.

“We’ve accomplished the first phase of this project — the location and identification of the target shipwreck — and now we’re hard at work planning for the recovery phase,” Odyssey senior project manager Andrew Craig said in a statement. “Given the orientation and condition of the shipwreck, we are extremely confident that our planned salvage operation will be well suited for the recovery of this silver cargo.” Recovery is expected to begin next spring. The British government awarded Odyssey an exclusive salvage contract for the cargo, and under the agreement Odyssey will retain 80 percent of the silver bullion salvaged from the wreck.

The 412-foot (125-meter) Gairsoppa had been sailing from India back to Britain in February 1941 bearing a cargo of silver, pig iron and tea, and was in a convoy of ships when a storm hit. Running low on fuel, the Gairsoppa broke off from the convoy and set a course for Galway, Ireland. It never made it, succumbing to a German torpedo in the contested waters of the North Atlantic. Of the 85 people on board, only one survived. The Gairsoppa came to rest nearly 15,400 feet (4,700 meters) below the surface, where for decades it was lost to the world. Odyssey is a world leader in deep-ocean exploration and has numerous shipwreck hunting projects in process around the globe. In May 2007, it announced it had found half a million silver coins and hundreds of gold objects from a ship they code-named the “Black Swan,” which went down in 1804 in the Atlantic off the Strait of Gibraltar. UNESCO estimates there are some three million shipwrecks worldwide, with billions of dollars in sunken treasures that can be recovered from the depths of the ocean.

Source: AFP

Have You seen Master Kush yet? Tell a friend! Sharing is caring ;o)

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant arrived in İstanbul on Sunday to a number of sports-related activities across the city.

Kobe’s first stop was the neighborhood of Caddebostan, where he inaugurated two basketball courts renovated by the star’s sponsor Nike and the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality. An enthusiastic crowd turned out to see the basketball star. Following the opening ceremony Kobe commented that he had found İstanbul to be much more beautiful than he was told. He also said the love of basketball by young people in İstanbul makes him very happy.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Kobe said he is still considering an offer from the Beşiktaş basketball team.

Kobe also praised NBA’s Turkish stars Hidayet Türkoğlu and Mehmet Okur. He also mentioned that he follows Spanish side FC Barcelona in football, calling Lionel Messi the best football player in the world.

He later met with his fans on İstanbul’s İstiklal Street. Addressing a large crowd that came to see him on a raised platform in front of a Nike store, the 33-year-old said this was his first visit to İstanbul but would not be his last.

The next stop for Kobe was the final of a Nike tournament for amateur basketball players. He was accompanied by Turkish star Enes Kanter, who was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA draft.

In the evening, Kobe visited the Galatasaray football team at Türk Telekom Arena during their training session ahead of Tuesday’s league game against Eskişehirspor. Speaking to GSTV, the İstanbul team’s TV station, Kobe said he was honored to be welcomed at Galatasaray’s facilities and added that Galatasaray had won another fan. Kobe was gifted a Galatasaray jersey. In an interview with the Anatolia news agency, the star basketball player said Galatasaray’s stadium was one of the best football stadiums he had ever seen.

Now, a more functional, longer-lasting and finer-looking alternative to cheap wrist bands–you know, the ones you get at concerts, bars, et cetera. Enter Geneva-based watchmaker Altanus’ Patch timepiece, hailed as the world’s first biodegradable paper watch, Ecouterre reports, via WWD.

While light in weight–just 11 grams–the paper timepiece will hardly go unnoticed: it’s available in a host of neon colors–bright magenta, yes, please–and seasonal patterns, featuring flags, lemons, flowers, and more. You can rest assured it won’t wear and tear on you, either, it’s waterproof.

The Patch can be found at select stores, including Madl’Or Horlogerie- Bijouterie in Monte Carlo and Old Village in Brighton, England; it will cost you 24 euros, or $33.50 at current exchange rates. Visit Patch Watches for more.

by Emma Grady, New York, NY

Lamborghini is to introduce a greener supercar that will replace the iconic Murciélago, which has been Lamborghini’s flagship for over a decade.

Automotive News reports that the supercar’s replacement will slash carbon dioxide output by 20 percent, without sacrificing performance.

It will feature a 6.5 liter, 700-hp engine and will emit 398 g/km of carbon dioxide, down from 495 g/km in the old version.

That equates to a rough fuel efficiency of 17.2 l/100km, a significant improvement on the current 22 l/100km.

Better tires, a more efficient powertrain and less weight contribute to the reductions and the production model will reportedly be more fuel-efficient than the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, which emits 420 g/km of carbon dioxide.

The final Murciélago rolled off the production line in May this year, with Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann saying that it embodied “the pure, unadulterated values of our brand.”

A total of 4,099 of the €300,000 cars were produced between 2001 and 2010, during which time it became one of the world’s best-known supercars and was the most-produced Lamborghini twelve cylinder of all time.

The Murciélago’s replacement will be unveiled at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, which runs March 3-13 in Switzerland.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Kush Boys Worldwide Forms Partnership with Hearst to Launch New-Age Pop Culture Lifestyle Product Lines

Hearst Media Services / Bay Area to help Kush Boys International increase visibility and build brand recognition online.

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) May 11, 2011

Kush Boys Worldwide, a forward-thinking company with interests in numerous projects and products for the modern green lifestyle, today announced a partnership with Hearst Media Services / Bay Area to help the company build brand awareness and an online reputation.

Kush Boys Worldwide’s new and emerging product lines are targeted towards people involved in what the company calls “today and tomorrow’s new-age pop culture,” a diverse demographic composed of “creative, productive, and fun-loving individuals who advocate personal freedom and empowerment—and like to remain current.”

“The attitudes of consumers involved in this new-age pop culture vary, which makes it exciting to explore,” said Drue Young, a Kush Boys Worldwide co-founder. “To appeal to such as vast range of preferences, we have created and produced stylish content—and a clever brand—that stands apart from the commercialized mass-media content constantly put out by big corporations.”

The year-long Hearst Media Services / Bay Area multimedia promotion program harnesses the popularity of SFGate.com as a source of high-quality news and information to help Kush Boys improve their placement in search engine results. Hearst is also developing and distributing news content in the form of frequent press releases about Kush Boys Worldwide through the largest online PR channel in the world.

By aligning with Hearst Media Services / Bay Area, Kush Boys Worldwide expects to increase visibility and brand recognition for their products, which include: Master Kush, an animated webisode series; Kush Couture Lifestyle Apparel (KCLA), an artist-based clothing line; Chronic Ice, a 100% natural hemp iced tea; and SirRock, a natural male enhancement supplement.

“All of our products are made with hand-picked, natural ingredients and materials that symbolize our attention to being green and caring for our ever-changing world,” said Michael Yanovsky, a co-founder of Kush Boys. “Kush Boys Worldwide uses organically produced materials whenever possible, and sources and manufactures American. Kush Boys Worldwide stays true to its roots, but actively engages the future with high design and attitude. “We want to appeal to a modern demographic that cares about industrial design, social networks, and helping the planet for another generation,” Yanovsky explained.

“Kush Boys Worldwide has its finger on the pulse of a new global culture. We have developed a line of lifestyle products that we know today’s generation will appreciate, and we are set to usher in a new age of fresh and functional living. The market is ready for something new,” said Jamal Weathers, a co-founder of Kush Boys Worldwide. “We chose to work with Hearst Media Services / Bay Area because we believe we can benefit from their vast multimedia marketing platforms and strategies. We only work with the best.”

For more information about the Kush Boys Worldwide / Hearst Media Services partnership or any of Kush Boys Worldwide’s products, call (213) 537-0118 or go online to http://www.kushboys.com.

About Kush Boys Worldwide

Kush Boys Worldwide is a Los Angeles-based company committed to pursuing ventures that nurture the “new-age pop culture.” Their mission is to utilize all of their resources and abilities to develop innovative ideas and creative products that appeal to the diverse range of people. Current projects include the online animated series Master Kush; a clothing line for the urban demographic called Kush Couture Lifestyle Apparel (KCLA); an all-natural iced tea made with hemp known as Chronic Ice; and the natural male enhancement supplement SirRock. Kush Boys Worldwide has a finger on the pulse of global pop culture, and designs all their ventures to bring together the diverse groups of people who live and love the new-age pop culture lifestyle.

Passengers looking for the best inflight experience would be wise to stick with the Virgin brand, if the gongs handed out in a recent award ceremony are anything to go by.

Last week, the Airline Passenger Experience Association’s (APEX) annual Passenger Choice Awards lauded both V Australia and Virgin America for providing the “Best Overall Passenger Experience”, in the small and large airline categories respectively.

The awards are based on an online survey conducted earlier this summer, in which passengers were asked to evaluate their aviation experiences.

As well as the overall best award, Virgin America took another three prizes for Best in Region: Americas, Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications and Best Ground Experience.

The US domestic airline describes its RED inflight entertainment system as the “most advanced inflight entertainment system in the skies” — it offers a 30-film library, live TV, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, Google maps, a Shop platform and at-seat ordering.

V Australia also won the award for the Best Inflight Entertainment User Interface.

US carrier JetBlue took the prize for the Best Cabin Ambience, while Brazilian TAM Airlines won Best Inflight Publication.

Etihad took an award for the Best Single Achievement in Inflight Entertainment, with judges praising its E-BOX system, which features a USB Media Player for photos, videos and music, at seat ordering (in First Class) and seat-to-seat email and SMS communications.

Source: AFPrelxanews